Starting box for racing animals



`Fume 9, 1936.

W. M. BACON, JR

STARTING BOX FOR RACIN ANIMALS Filed March 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1wam/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 9;, 1936. l W, M, BACON, JR 2,043,918

STARTING BOX FQR RACING ANIMLS Filed MarOh 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICESTARTING BOX FOR RACING ANIMALS Application March 23, 1933, Serial No.662,339

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a starting apparatus for racing purposes andmore particularly to starting boxes for racing animals.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a box of thischaracter, wherein the series of starting doors for the freeing of theanimals within the starting box are controlled simultaneously so thatthey will open with uniformity and with great speed and at the same timethe working of these doors will be practically noiseless so as not to`distract the animals especially at the starting point in racing events,the box in its entirety being of novel construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a box of thischaracter,wherein the doors for the separate animal compartments in the.box are controllable through mechanism which will assure absoluteaccuracy for the openingA of the doors to free the animals to a racingcourse, the ope-ning of these doors being uniform throughout the seriesthereof and such mechanism permits of both the closing of the doo-rsafter the starting of the animals in the race and the latching throughthe instrumentality of a single latching device of the doors in theirclosed position.`

A further object of the invention is the provision of a box of thischaracter which is comparatively simple in its construction, thoroughlyreliable and efcient in its operation, the working parts being exposedfor free access thereto, the opening of the doors of the boxes forstarting animals in a race being effected uniformly and with dispatchand the box in its entirety being susceptible of manufacture at aminimum expense.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of theinvention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a starting box constructed in accordancewith the invention, a portion thereof being broken away at its top forillustrating interior organization.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 2--2 ofFigure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail partment is closed by avertically slidable door (Cl. 11S-15.5)

sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure2 looking in the .direction ofthe arrows.

`Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 ofV Figure 3- looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of V5 the latchingV end ofthe plunger frame for the door operating mechanism. Y

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, detailed, sectional viewtaken on the line 6 6 of Figure l, looking in the direction of thearrows. l0

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in Vthe drawings.

or gate I'I which is mountable in the back framing of the casing A inany desirable manner. At these open backs of the compartments o-r stallsI6 the racing animalsy are admitted into, the

`casing or starting box. 3o

Arranged for horizontal swinging movement at the open fro-nts to thestalls or compartments I6 are double starting doors I8 which uponopening allow the freedom of the racing animals for racing purposes. Itis preferable that these doors 35 be swingingly supported upon hingesI9. When the doors I8 are in closed position this is a barrier for thefreeing of the racing dogs within the starting box.

Arranged upon the top I4 of the casing A transversely thereof at itscenter is a guide rail 20, while at proper `distances removed inwardlyfrom the ends Il of the casing A parallel with said rail 2D are bearings2| upon which is movably supported the coupling rail 22 of a door 45opening plunger frame 23 having the diagonally disposed braces 24 joinedwith said rail 22 to effect a rigid structure. The plunger frame at thecenter bar thereof carries on opposie sides substantially L-shaped anglemembers 25, these being overlapped with respect to the guide rail 2i!and guiding the' plunger frame in its movement.

Adjustably mounted in the rail 22 are eye bolts 26, these being properlypositioned and having pivoted therein links Y21, each including a hookterminal 28 to engage in a keeper V29 countersunk in the upper edge ofeach door I8. Y 28 engaged with the keeper 29 pivotally connects thelink 21 with its door; It will be seen that when the plunger frame 23 isadvanced under f the action` of the links 21 the doors I8will be causedto swing to open position and by reason of theslidable fitting of suchplungerV frame upon the guiderail 20 these doorsunder their openingVmovements will be uniform and simultaneously opened.

Yeov

Suitably attached to the top Il vclose tothe front of the casing A isa'series of evenly distributed coiled retractilevsprings 30,-these beingalso connected in their arrangement with the braces 24 of the plungerframe and the tensioning of these springs is such as to render theadvance'of the plunger for the simultaneous open# ing of the doors withgreat speed. Y Y Y Y "The center rail of the plunger frame at vitsYrearmost end is formed with alatchng notch 3I and this end playsthrough a bridge 32v upon which is mountedv a spring tensioned latchingdevice 33 which is adapted to engage theY notch 3l Y when thel plungerframe is retracted against'the Y resistance of the springs 30 so Ythatthe doors I8 will be locked closed as these doors `inthe retractingmovement of the plunger frame swing toY closing position. Y

In this instance there is shown an electric soleno'id 3 4 having vamovable armature or core 35,

this being connected with the latchingdevice 33 and on energizing'thesolenoid the'said latching device V33 can be moved to releasing positionfor coupling end 38 for detachable connection with a foot pedal 39 whichis depressibly supported at the back of the casing A and through thispedal, Yunder foot operation, the plunger frame can be The hook e `itbeing understood of course that the starting more readily retracted toassume a latched position under the tension of the springs 30. Y Whenthis has been done itis preferable tol separate the Y cable from thepedal 29 at its coupling end 38. The detalls of the pull cable 36, thepedal 39Y and the coupling end 38 of such'cable are clearly shown inFigureZ of the drawingsrandY their operation for the purposes named willbe clearly apparent. Y v

In the use of the starting box the casing A de- 1 Vvoid of racinganimals is placed at the starting point of an animal race course. 'I'henthe doors or gates I1 Vare raised and the racing animals enter theirrespective compartments or stalls I6,

doors I8 normally are closed. In'thisposltion g of the doors the plungerframe is latched. Now when it is desired that the animalsr be freedYfrom the box the latching device is controlled to free the plunger`frame 23. With maximum speed, un- 2 der the tension of the springs 30,"the starting doors I8 will Ybe simultaneously opened'one withV respectto the other, whereupon the racing'ani-V mals ca n make an exit forstarting in a race from the starting box. It must be bornevin mind that2 a simultaneous opening movement to the starting doors I8 is electedwithout anyposslble irregularity in the opening of such doors and theopening is executed practically noiseless.

It should be obvious that the working parts can 3 Vbe readily lubricatedto I minimize `friction and noise. e

What is claimed is:V Y i Y Y In a structure Vof the character vdescribedhav ing doorways arranged in the same plane and side by side, doubleswinging doors normally Aclosing the doorways, a'jguide arranged abovethe doorways; a coupling rail movable upon the guide,

a plunger frame secured to the coupling rail and including a center barsuperimposed on Vthey 4 guide, and angle pieces on the bar and overlapfping the guide, Ya plurality of springs distributed Aalong the frame forurging the coupling rail in one direction, eye'bolts adjustably carriedbythe coupling rail, links pivoted to the doors and in .5

Ythe eyes of said boltsfor theswinging of suchV doors to. open orclosedrpositions, and means for latching the frame against movement whenthe doors are closed.

WILLARD M. BACON, .neY '505

